The dragon's head became visible first,a massive skull covered in scales that looked like black glass, each one the size of a shield, fitting together so perfectly they seemed like one continuous surface rather than individual pieces. The head was reptilian, predatory, with a long snout filled with teeth that Asta could see glinting in the red light,teeth as long as swords, sharp enough to bite through steel, numerous enough to fill a mouth that could swallow a horse whole.Then the neck, thick with muscle and covered in those same glassy scales, rising up as the dragon straightened, lifting that enormous head higher and higher until it towered over Asta even from the other side of the gate.And behind the neck, barely visible in the darkness, Asta could make out the suggestion of a body that went on and on, coiled in the depths of the cave, too large to fully comprehend. Wings folded against its sides, each one big enough to blot out the sun if they were ever unfurled. A tail that

Morning arrived at the labor quarters with its usual lack of fanfare,weak sunlight filtering through small windows, the distant sounds of people starting their day, the general atmosphere of another day beginning whether anyone was ready for it or not. But today felt different. Today carried an electricity in the air, a buzz of anticipation that had nothing to do with work assignments or training schedules.Today was the second tournament match.The gathering quarters had filled up even earlier than yesterday, people claiming their seats, staking out good viewing positions, everyone eager to see if today's fight would be as spectacular as Jabber's transformation had been. The space hummed with dozens of overlapping conversations, voices rising and falling like waves, creating a constant background noise that spoke to collective excitement.Near the front section, maybe five rows back from the ring itself, a group of young men had clustered together, leaning on the benches in front o

"Fighters, please step forward and select your weapons from the racks provided!"From opposite sides of the ring, two figures emerged and began walking toward the weapon racks that had been set up near the center. The crowd's noise rose again, cheering and calling out encouragement.Mira Stoneheart approached from the left, her tall frame moving with the confident stride of someone completely comfortable with her body and its capabilities. She was dressed in practical fighting clothes,fitted pants that wouldn't restrict movement, a sleeveless shirt that showed arms corded with muscle, her hair pulled back severely from her face so nothing would obscure her vision. The scar on her face seemed more pronounced in the morning light, but she wore it like a badge of honor rather than something to be ashamed of.She reached the weapon rack and barely hesitated before selecting her preferred tools: two small knives, each one maybe eight inches long including the handle, designed more for qu

"THREE!"The referee's voice boomed across the training yard, his hand raised high as he continued the countdown over number fifteen's motionless body. The young man lay sprawled on his back near the edge of the ring, blood trickling from his nose, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths that suggested he was either unconscious or very close to it.The crowd was in full celebration mode now, people on their feet, cheering and laughing and shouting their approval of Mira's devastating opening strike. The noise was incredible,hundreds of voices overlapping, creating a wall of sound that made it hard to think, hard to hear anything else.But underneath the celebration, there was also speculation. People leaning toward their neighbors, voices raised to be heard:"Is he actually knocked out?" Someone asked, his tone mixing hope with uncertainty. "Like, completely out? One punch and done?"His companion nodded vigorously, apparently completely convinced. "Isn't

"So for the last time: give up. Step out of the ring. Forfeit the match. Walk away while you still can. Because once I really start fighting, once I stop playing around and start trying to actually break you, it's going to be too late to back out."Mira's response was to tighten her grip on her knives and settle deeper into her own stance. No words. No acknowledgment that she'd even heard him. Just silent, absolute refusal.Matthias stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable behind all the blood. Then his lips curved into the widest smile yet,not mocking, not cruel, but genuinely delighted."Alright." He said softly, his voice carrying unmistakable satisfaction. "Your silence means no, right? Which means I can go ahead and really fight. Can stop worrying about maybe killing you by accident. Can just... let loose."His smile grew impossibly wider, splitting his bloody face, showing all his teeth in a expression that was more predatory animal than human. "Hahahaha! Thi